The powertrain kit will include hydrogen fuel storage tanks, fuel cell stacks, batteries, electric motors and transmission, and offer viable alternatives to traditional diesel powertrains as companies aim to decarbonise their fleets.

The CARB ZEP Executive Order certifies that a powertrain complies with CARB regulations for zero-emission powertrains to meet specific emission standards required for sale in California. OEMs using Toyota’s powertrain may be eligible for other incentives such as CARBs Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Incentive Project (HVIP).

Scott Friedman, Senior Programme Manager Advanced Mobility for Toyota Motor North America, said, “Toyota aims to reduce or eliminate emissions for all mobility solutions, and our fuel cell electric powertrains have proven that hydrogen can play a significant role in the emissions reduction from heavy-duty transport.”

Chris Rovik, Executive Programme Manager Advanced Mobility at Toyota Motor North America, added, “Fuel cell technology is scalable, and we believe it will take an increasingly visible and important role in our collective fight to reduce and eliminate carbon as we move towards a hydrogen society.”

Toyota began its efforts with hydrogen-powered heavy-duty truck powertrains in 2017 and has since developed multiple generations of powertrain prototypes. The Alpha and Beta trucks logged nearly 14,000 miles of testing and real-world drayage operations in and around the Port of Los Angeles.

The company’s CARB ZEP-certified powertrain kit is now ready for commercialisation, with production expected to start for customers later this year (2023) at the Kentucky manufacturing plant.